602 Proceedings. 



visitors can leave their belongings, or have an opportunity of consuming a hasty lunch. 

 All progressive Museums provide the above adjuncts, and their want has long been felt 

 in Auckland. To sum up, no satisfactory j^rogress in the Museum can be hoped for 

 until these drawbacks and deficiencies are removed. This can only be done in a much 

 larger, better planned, and more completely equipped building. 



The Need for a New Building. — In last year's report the Council showed that the 

 existing site of the Museum was not large enough for present requirements, to say 

 nothing of future needs. It was also proved that the cost of enlarging the site by the 

 purchase of adjoining land was altogether beyond the means of the Institute, even if 

 there was any prospect of financing a scheme involving the purchase of expensive city 

 jjroperty as well as the erection of new buildings. The inevitable conclusion was the 

 removal of the Museum from its ])resent position. After much consideration it was 

 decided to a])ply to the City Council for a site on Observatory Hill, in the Auckland 

 Domain, a situation which possesses the fundamental advantages of room for future 

 expansion, decreased risk of fire, and freedom from dust and smoke. The City Council, 

 desirous to assist the Institute in its search for a new home, unanimously agreed to give 

 the necessary permission, subject to the Council of the Institute promoting any legisla- 

 tion that might be required. The result of this action was rejiorted to the last annual 

 meeting, and was confirmed by a very large majority. 



As the solicitors to both the City Council and the Institute were of opinion that a 

 validating Act was necessary, arrangements were at once made for the drafting of such, 

 the terms being agreed upon at a conference of the two bodies. Under this Act power 

 is given to sell the present site and apply the proceeds towards the erection of a new 

 Museum in the Domain ; while the City Council receives authority to lease to the 

 Institute, at a nominal rent, an area of nearly 3 acres on Observatory Hill. It is also 

 provided that the Mayor, ex officio, and two .members of the City Council annually 

 a])pointed shall in future rejiresent the city on the Council of the Institute. 



The Act, which bears the title of " The Auckland Institute and Museum 

 Site Empowering Act." was placed in the charge of Mr. C. .1. Parr, C.jNI.G., and, 

 being practically unopposed, had a rapid passage through Parliament. It has since 

 received the Governor's assent, and is now law. The Council have great pleasure in 

 stating that from the first inception of the scheme for transferring the Museum to the 

 Domain up to the present time no opposition of any moment has been raised, while 

 many expressions of support have been volunteered. It is doubtful whether any 

 proposal advocating a site for an important public building in Auckland has been so 

 favourably and so generally accepted. In this connection, the Council wish to state 

 their high appreciation of the action of the City Coimcil in so generously acceding to the 

 wishes of the Institute. 



As for the character of the site, all that need be said here is that it is in every way 

 suited for the purpose. It has all the advantages of a commanding ])Osition, greath* 

 reduced risk of fire, freedom from dust and smoke, and, above all, room for future 

 expansion. Few of the larger Museums of the world are so happily placed. In grantmg 

 a portion of Observatory Hill as the site of the future Museum for Auckland the city 

 has cheerfully and willingly given of its best. Let the Institute look to itself that full 

 use is made of such great opportunities. 



A War Memorial Museum. — Closely allied to the attem])t to erect a Museum worthy 

 of the city of Auckland on the slopes of the Domain is the formation of a collection 

 illustrating the share that this country has taken in the Great War. It has long been 

 the aim and hope of the Institute that an important part of the new building to be 

 erected shall consist of a War Memorial Museum, capable of adequately commemorating 

 the trials and hardships, the labom- and sacrifice, of the many thousands of soldiers of 

 all classes who have left New Zealand to assist in crushing the German peril. Many of 

 these have given up their life in the struggle, others will return maimed and suffering — 

 perhaps never to recover health. Is there to be no " Hall of Memory " in Auckland 

 to keep alive for all time a knowledge of the many brave deeds of these men — to com- 

 memorate their dauntless courage and steadfast devotion to duty ? The very idea is 

 almost unthinkable — but time is fleeting, and opportunities are being lost, f^ *'■ '.'^ 



'*'°^Ie(7i7//T/'7r^^^^''/ar"797.9^ Mavor Tf 



Auckland. Vice-Presidents— Yion. E. Mitchelson : Mr. P. J. Parr, C.M.G., 

 M.P. Co?/7?c?7-— Professor V. W. Eserton, ^Mr. J. Kenderdine. Mr. T. W. 

 Leys, Mr. E. V. Miller. Mr. T. Peacock, Mr. D. Petrie. Professor H. W. 

 Segar, Professor A. P. W. Thomas, :\Ir. J. H. Uj.ton. Mr. H. E. Vaile. 

 Professor F. P. Worlev. Trvsfees — Mr. T. Peacock, Mr. J. Keid, Professor 

 A. P. W. Thomas, Mr. J. H. r])ton. Mr. H. E. Vaile Secyetari/ avd 

 Curator Mr. T. F. Cheeseman. Auditor- Mr. S. Gray. 



